The Council of Governors (CoG) and the departments of Youth and Gender in collaboration with the Kwale County Department of Trade and Cooperatives have trained more than 100 women from Msambweni and Lunga Lunga sub-counties on how to access markets for their products.
Addressing the women at Ukunda social hall Tuesday, area Deputy Governor (DG) Fatuma Achani said women from the region have benefited with millions of shillings from the trade revolving funds since the inception of devolution.
Achani said Sh123 million has been issued to different women groups in the county, adding that this has greatly empowered the women socio-economically.
The DG said that the county government has built four Biashara centres in each of the four sub-counties of Msambweni, Lunga Lunga, Matuga, and Kinango with two trained officers where women receive training on how to access markets for their businesses.
She added that the county government has built open-air markets, stalls and the ongoing Kombani wholesale produce market due to open in a few months’ time where residents will access ready markets for their produce.
She further urged the women to apply for the new stalls which are almost ready the upcoming Sh.120 million Kombani wholesale market.
Achani encouraged women to come together to register companies where they shall be able to apply for tenders since 30% of the county government’s tenders go to youth, women, and people living with disabilities.
She said women empowerment is paramount for community development and it’s because of that as a county we have decided to take steps towards realizing that our women in the county are socially and economically empowered through various development programs.
“When we empower them with market-related information, guide them through and mentor them, women can do wonders” she said.
On the other hand, East Africa Community (EAC) representative Ms. Jesca Kiplagat introduced the “50 million African Women Speak” platform to the Kwale women.
The platform contributes to the economic empowerment of women by providing a networking forum that will enable women in business to access information and financial services.
“The platform will help women entrepreneurs access information on financial and non-financial services so that they start and grow up their businesses,” she said.
She said it connects women from 38 countries and establishes a market for their business regionally, internationally as well as locally.
CoG representative Ms. Wanjiku Gitonga congratulated the Kwale women for choosing a woman in leadership saying that the training only benefits the counties with women governors or deputy governors.
By Hussein Abdullahi
